Wild aims to join the elite

RIGHT ON CUE . . . Michael Wild is reaping the rewards for improvements in fitness and safety play.

Snooker: MICHAEL Wild is closing in on a place on the professional snooker tour.

The 30-year-old potting machine from Haven Lane, Moorside, has hit sights set on joining the world’s elite 96 players after winning a major event at Clay Cross, Sheffield.

Victory in that English Billiards and Snooker Association tournament lifted him to fourth in the rankings for non-elite players.

The number one from that list will qualify for next season’s pro tour, while numbers four to five will play in the European Open, the winner of which also forces his way into the top 96.

The northern section in which Michael competes is generally reckoned to possess more strength in depth than the southern version, so Michael’s victory in the second of three such tournaments was hard-earned.

In the quarter-finals, he beat David Grace (Leeds) 5-2 with breaks of 83,74,71 and 62.

He followed that by compiling runs of 63 and 62 (twice) in a 5-2 dismissal of Bolton’s Craig Steadman and a ding-dong final against Robbie Williams (Liverpool) saw Wild come out on top 6-5 thanks to breaks of 85,79, 68, 66, 62 and 54.

Michael’s next target is the third and final northern event in Leeds at the weekend.

And he goes there full of confidence following this latest win.

He said: “I have been working on my fitness and it seems to have paid dividends.

“I also identified my safety game as something I needed to address and that seems to be creating chances for me.

“I feel confident in the balls and have been making plenty of decent breaks.”